Reggae when you are, Eddy

RETRO reggae rockers UB40 are dusting off their microphones and heading out on tour with special guest Eddy Grant.

Having released their new compilation album “Love Songs” earlier this year, the band — famous for hits such as “Red, Red Wine” and “Kingston Town” — are keen to give the fans the live performances they have been craving.

Named after the Unemployment Benefit form, the Birmingham band got together in 1978 and rapidly found world-wide success.

Thirty years, 54 hit singles and 70 million albums sales later, the band is still going strong with Duncan Campbell taking over lead vocal duties from his brother Ali. Fellow Brit Eddy Grant has also enjoyed a 30-year career studded with huge hits like “‘I Don’t Wanna Dance” which stayed at Number One in the UK charts for three weeks in 1982. Grant’s biggest single “Electric Avenue” went on to sell over a million copies worldwide and was re-released as a remix in 2001. Catch them live at the Manchester Arena on Saturday.